Dehydrator



June 23, 1925. 1,543,073

C. W. FIEGE DEHYDRATOR Filed Sept. 27. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .r

' @Moz n `lune 23, 1925.

C. W. FIEGE DEHYDRATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 311mm to@ Patented June 23, 1925.

JNTE STATES PATENT GFFQE.

CARL 7. FIEGE, OF HEALDSBURG, CALIFORNIA,

DEYDB-ATOR.

Aepicalien .filed September of t Le invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains lo make and use the saine.

lThis invention relates to a delrvdrat-rn'.

The prime object is to provide a more edicient plant or apparatus of this character which is simple, durable and coinparatively inexpensive in construction and which dispenses with the necessity of eniploying upper decks or long` return air ducts Another object is to provide tion in which the material in its passage will be subjected to alternate currents of heated air traveling in opposite directions.

Another object is to provide a construction in which the 'space beneath the cars used to contain the material to be dried, may be utilized as a return duct for the air.

A further object 'is to provide a construction using radiators to heat the air, and supporting means for the radiators in connection with sealing means for engagement with the car, to insure passage of the air along the proper courses.

Another object-is to provide a construction in which the air is supplied through the apparatus in two separate streams or currents in combination with a car or other body containing the material to be dried, adapted to be subjected to the action of one current and then to the action of the other current.

Another object is to provide a construetion in which the air travels in a tortuous path through the car, in connection with a particular construction of the car Wherein it is subdivided to render such passage practical.

Various additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

ln said dr Winery- Fig' re 1 is a horizontal sectional view through the improved apparatus;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary horizontal a construe mmsxlfrsc sectional line l--B of lfigure l;

longitudinal sectional i il of Figure long'tudinal sectional .5 of Figure 3; 1s a plan view of the blower;

l sectional view through the car or drying; rack; Figure 8 a detail view' of one of the trays employed;

Figure laken on vlf igure. taken on 1F45 irc taxen on ligure T1" I'ure Figure E) is a sectional view taken on the vertical piane indicated by the line 9 9 of Figure 1, and

Figure l0 is a sectional view taken on Y"ical plane indicated by the line 10- of lf'igure 9.

in carying out invention, a housing or tunnel 1G of any suitable construction 'and length is provided having double railway tracks rails 11 running therethrough and on the door 12 thereof. An entrance door 18 is hinged to one end of the housing as at 14 and an outlet door 15 is hinged to thc other end of the' houslng'as at 16.

Suitable bars or racks 1T are adapted to enter the housing` 10 through the way covered by cor 3 and to leave the housing through tre way covered by door 15. These bars or racks may be square as shown or of any desired shape and bc provided with wheels as at 18 whereby they may travel along the track 11.

Side track 19 may be provided and have a truck 2O adapted to travel along the same on wheels 21. This truck carries short ruil secti ons l1's which are adapted to aline with and normally form parts of the track rails 1l. It willbe seen that the sections 11a are of such length that they completely accommodate one of the cars or racks 17 thereon so that the same may be removed from the track 11 by moving; the truck 2O outwardly of the housing through a Way 22 normally covered b v a door 23-hinged to the housing as at 24.

Material to be' hydrated' is carried by cars or racks 17 which may be of any suitable construction, preferably having removable trays 24 of flat construction secured together' in any manner so as to secure maximum strength. One end of each car carries ra removable end Wall 25 detachably held in place as by pegs 26 removably dis- (ill is heaeil and tln` dehvdratintT ell'eet is imparted tu the eontents of trays 24 ot' the rari; or vars iT. 'l`he duets are maintained sullieienilj.' airtight for the passage ot the an' in the manner stated in view ot' the varionsA elosure flaps, doors (30. and ribs 55. li will be realized that during operation, the air will become moist with water due to evtraetions ot' moisture from the eontents ot thil trays Q4, This moisture laden air will be permitted to esca-pe to the atmosphere by adjustment of the dampers 4G. This `will cause a sub-atmospheric eondition within the housing- 10 and this condition will Cause the dampers or elosures 4U to open automatically to permit sufficient fresh air entering housing lll to restore the supply of air, said dampers being closed by spring 42 when the pressure within housing: l) and the tension ot' the springs is sufficient to do so. The dampers are controlled so as to open to the predetermined degree through the' adjustment o the nuts il which vary the tension nl' the springs 4Q. Should it be desired to remove a ear or ears before the same reaches the discharge opening of door l5, .auch ear may be moved onto the truck 2li and the truck then operated along the traeli 19. The ears are of such size that they may be preferably manually pushed or shoved one against the other and advanced in this way. Also, as the cars advance to the delrvdrator or housing l0, they are permitted to remain stationary therein for any suitable interval or period of time and that as they advance, and the foremost oar passes out ot' the housing, the air Will travel through the cars in opposite directions, that if; the ears advance in a step by step manner and at the alternate steps, the passage of the air through the ears in opposite direction, lt will be. noted that the heating of the housing; is greatest adjacent the outlet e* il thereof sinee a heater is omitted adjawnt the inlet door. In this way, the ears as they pass through housing l() are gradualiv heated and the intensity of the heat is greatest at the discharge end.

Various ehangres may be resorted lto provided they fall within the spirit and scope ol the invention.

l elaim my invention l. ln a dehydrator. means to Cause air to pass over thrl material and substantially in a horizontally direction. means to carry the material. and means to form a return passage for the air to the first mentioned means under the entire length of said means to earry the material.

l Q. In a dehydrator, movable means to earry the material, means to Cause the air travel through the material, and means roaetina with said movable means to form a return passageway below said material and substantially throughout the length of the movable means to the tirs( mentioned means.

Il. ln a delrvdralor. movable means to eurry the material. means lo ruuseiravel oly the ail through the material. and means roartingavith the movable mains :uljarent the base thereof' and substantially throughout the length thereof to t'orm a ietnrn passage- \va}v for the air to the tirst mentioned mains below the movable means.

l. ln a delrvdrator. meansy lo euriv the material` a blower to l'orvfe air through the material. means formingY a return passant way to the blower between the bottom ol the second mentioned means` substantially throughout the length thereot' and the bot tom ot' the dehydrator.

ln :i dehydrator. movable means to Carry the material. means lo anse travel of the air through the material, means (o aetingr with the movable means adjaeent the base ibex-eo!" to l'orm :i return passageway for the air to the first mentioned na-ans be low the movable means. and heating means over whieh the air pas u (l. In a dehyiglrat r, ears to rai-ry the material, a housinpr in which thel ears move, ribs rising from the base wall of the housingr on opposite sides of the Cars, sealing r means between said ribs and the ears to form a passageway beneath all of the ears, means to supply air through the material. the lat ter means being in Communication with the passageway so that 'the latter will serve as a return.

7. ln a dehydrator, ears to carry the material, a housing in which the ears move, ribs rising;f from the base wall of the housing on opposite sides of the ears, sealimgr means between said ribs and the ears to form a passageway beneath all of the ears, means to supply air through the material, the. latter means beingv in communication with the passageway so that the latter .will serve a return, and heaters supported by said ribs.

8. In a dehydrator, ears to carry the material, a housing,r in which the ears move, ribs rising from the base wall of the housin; r on opposite sides of the ears, sealing;r means between said ribs and the ears to form a passageway beneath all of the ears, means to supply air through the material, the latter means being in communication with the passageway so that the latter will serve as a. return, uprights rising from said ribs, an" doors eoaeting with certain of said uprigh: and the side walls of the housing.

9. In a dehydrator, ears to Carry the material, a housing in which the cars move, ribs rising' from the base Wall of the housing on opposite sides ot the cars, sealing means between said ribs and the ears to'form a passageway beneath all of the ears, means to supply air through the material, the lat- 

